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Group wants South Burlington 'Rebel' name change included in new budget

Group wants South Burlington 'Rebel' name change included in new budget

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Updated: 12:35 AM EDT May 4, 2017

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WEBVTT MEETING WAS SUPPOSED TO BEABOUT THE BUDGET-OR RATHER, A THIRD PROPOSEDBUDGET. BUT THE SCHOOL'SSPORTS NAME WAS WHATNEIGHBORS REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.DOZENS SPOKETO THE BOARDBOTH FOR ANDAGAINST THE REBEL NAME. THE SCHOOLBOARD ANNOUNCED INFEBRUARY THEDISTRICT WILL RETIRE THENAME AFTER THIS YEAR. THERE'S CURRENTLY A PETITIONCALLING FOR A MAJORITY VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE NAMESHOULD CHANGE.AT TONIGHTS MEETING, SOME SAY THEY FEEL IT'S RACIST AND THREATENING,WHILE OTHERSSAY IT'S NOT ANEGATIVE TERM.ONE MEMBER OTHE GROUP "REBELALLIANCE" - MEMBERS ARE FOR KEEPING THE NAME--SAIDTHEY DONT WANTTHE NAMECHANGE TO HOLDBACK THIS BUDGET. BUT SHE TOLD US SHE CANT SEE IT PASSING WITHOUT THE REBEL ALLIANCES PETITION ON THE BALLOT, TOO."FOR ME, IT'S A SYMBOL OF SLAVERY-AND IT'SA SYMBOL OMANY THINGS I DO NOT WANT TOSEE AT MY SCHOOL. AND ITDOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL WELCOMED.""THE EASY WAY TO PASS THISBUDGET, WITHOUT ANY DOUBT, IS PUT THIS WHOLENAME CHANGE ON HOLD JUSTPUT IT ON HOLD- LET'S PASS THIS BUDGET."THE SCHOOLBOARD HAS BEENADVISED BY ALAWYER THAT THEYRE NOTLEGALLY OBLIGATED TOINCLUDE THE PETITION ON THE BALLOT-ANDTHAT THERESULTS ARENT BINDING.THIS MEANS THEFATE OF THE REBEL NAMESTILL RESTS WITH THESCHOOL BOARD. NOW THE BOARD DIDNT DECITONIGHT ON THEBUDGET OR WHETHER TOINCLUDE THE PETITIONCALLING FOR A REBEL NAMEVOTE-THEY SAY THEY'LL DECIDEON BOTH NEXTWEEK. LIVE IN SOBU, RENEWUNDERLICHNBC5 NEWS.---

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Group wants South Burlington 'Rebel' name change included in new budget

The school board meeting was supposed to be about the budget -- or rather, a third proposed budget. But the school's mascot name was what neighbors wanted to talk about.
Dozens spoke to the board both for and against the Rebel name.
The school board announced in February the district will retire the name after this year.
There's currently a petition calling for a majority vote on whether the name should change.
At Wednesday night's meeting, some said they feel the name is racist and threatening.
"For me, it's a symbol of slavery -- and it's a symbol of many things I do not want to see at my school,” said eighth-grader Layla Rahmati. “And it does not make me feel welcomed."
Others said it was not a negative term.
One member of the group "Rebel Alliance" -- members are for keeping the name -- and said they don’t want the name change to hold back this budget. But she said she can’t see it passing without the Rebel Alliance's petition on the ballot, too.
"The easy way to pass this budget, without any doubt, is put this whole name change on hold, just put it on hold,” said Stacey Savage of Rebel Alliance. “Let's pass this budget."
The school board has been advised by a lawyer that they’re not legally obligated to include the petition on the ballot -- and that the results aren’t binding.
The board did not decide Wednesday night on the budget or whether to include the petition calling for a Rebel name vote and agreed to act on both next week.

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. —

The school board meeting was supposed to be about the budget -- or rather, a third proposed budget. But the school's mascot name was what neighbors wanted to talk about.

The school board announced in February the district will retire the name after this year.

There's currently a petition calling for a majority vote on whether the name should change.

At Wednesday night's meeting, some said they feel the name is racist and threatening.

"For me, it's a symbol of slavery -- and it's a symbol of many things I do not want to see at my school,” said eighth-grader Layla Rahmati. “And it does not make me feel welcomed."

Others said it was not a negative term.

One member of the group "Rebel Alliance" -- members are for keeping the name -- and said they don’t want the name change to hold back this budget. But she said she can’t see it passing without the Rebel Alliance's petition on the ballot, too.

"The easy way to pass this budget, without any doubt, is put this whole name change on hold, just put it on hold,” said Stacey Savage of Rebel Alliance. “Let's pass this budget."

The school board has been advised by a lawyer that they’re not legally obligated to include the petition on the ballot -- and that the results aren’t binding.

The board did not decide Wednesday night on the budget or whether to include the petition calling for a Rebel name vote and agreed to act on both next week.